Reflecting on Arthur W. Pink's Statement That Christians Are Called to Witness Against the World System With Their Lives as Well!

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"Saved to serve, not to sin. Because the Savior saved me from sin, how I wish to sin no more. Lord, thank you for saving my soul, how may I serve you." has been the anthem of the truly saved Christian even to those who are still in their infancy. The whole idea of Christianity has been that they were called not to win the world system to Christ but to live their lives as a witness against it.

Lifestyle-only evangelism is an enemy to soulwinning because while one must certainly live a better lifestyle as a Christian, one does not limit to just doing good works as a result of salvation, one is also called to be a witness of the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's not enough to be humble in one good's works but one must credit to whom the glory belongs. When the Christian's good works are contrasted to people doing good for the sake of applause, it becomes a witness to the world. It shows the world system that its "good works" are not good because they do not do it for the glory of God. Nobody has the right to have the motto "For the greater glory of God." if what they do is just for their own personal glory, not for God and God alone.

How does the Christian lifestyle become a witness against the world? 1 Peter 3:14-17 says this wonderful truth, "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." When it comes to the Christian life, there is always that reason and hope that they must be ready to defend to why they have it. They must be ready to defend why they believe what the believe, not just say I believe it without building a strong defense as a witness against the world system.

When the Christian rejoices in spite of persecution, happy in spite of trials, when they endure the false accusations when they continue to do what's right in spite of all the false accusations, sooner or later those who accuse them will be ashamed of their actions. Meekness, godly fear and a good conscience are far more effective ways in one's spiritual warfare than being arrogant, putting a false bravado which results in bad conscience. As one pastor told me, "Don't mind those people who talk bad about you, all they want is to make you upset and Satan uses them without them knowing it to put you down." Character assassinations may come and go but the truth is more glorious. A lie may travel a mile or more before the truth puts on its boots but God knows much better than the accuser.

The Christian's attitude when they fall into sin will also be a witness to the world system. It also shows how hypocritical the world is. I remembered one of the many words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon when he said that the world is ready to forgive the many wrongs of the world but let one Christian fall down, the world is ready to roast him or her in the flames of hypocrisy. What the Christian lifestyle does is continued repentance and accountability. When the Christian shows the value of accountability, it puts the world system to shame for its double standard. They are so willing to accept a wicked heathen for all his or her errors but reject the Christian for his or her little errors. It also shows Christians how more forgiving they are and that puts the world system of hypocrisy to shame to condone sin from one and condemn sin in the other. It shows the world how their hypocrisy shows that they are so fallen from grace and that their righteousnesses are just filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

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